ATHENS, Ga. --- With an 8-1 record and riding the first eight-game winning streak in program history, the Georgia soccer team entered the national rankings for the first time this season at No. 19 in the Soccer America poll released Tuesday.

The Bulldogs (8-1, 1-0) most recently toppled South Carolina – then No. 8 in the Soccer America poll – in Friday night’s SEC opener in Athens, with goals by freshman Marion Crowder and redshirt senior Laura Eddy as well as the seventh shutout of the season for keeper Caitlin Woody. The win secured Georgia its highest-ranked victory since 2009, and tied the 2013 squad with both the 1997 and 2007 teams for the best nine-game start in program history.

The No. 19 ranking is Georgia’s highest since 2010, when the Bulldogs were No. 17 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll for back-to-back weeks on Sept. 20 and 27.

Georgia is receiving votes in both the NSCAA and Soccer Times polls.

Additionally, the Bulldogs came in at No. 13 in the initial RPI release of the 2013 season – making them the highest-ranked team from the Southeastern Conference. The RPI (rating percentage index) is the most important criteria used by the NCAA to determine the 64-team NCAA Tournament field, taking into consideration a team’s results and strength of schedule. Thirteen is the highest RPI for the Bulldogs since they were No. 9 on Oct. 21, 2009, and the highest of the head coach Steve Holeman era.

The Bulldogs are on the road this weekend, taking on Missouri and No. 25/14 Kentucky.